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In May 2025, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.6% in the month and increased by 1.6% in the 12 months from May 2024.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.5% in May 2025 and grew by 0.9% in the year when compared with May 2024.
The value of Retail Sales fell by 0.7% in the month and rose by 1.7% in the 12 months to May 2025.
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Department Stores (-3.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.2%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-1.5%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (+3.0%), Fuel (+2.2%), Bars (+1.2%), and Furniture & Lighting (+1.2%).
In May 2025, the largest annual volume growth was recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+10.0%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+5.4%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.2%).
The highest annual volume declines were in Bars (-6.8%), Department Stores (-4.2%), and Electrical Goods (-2.7%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.7% in May 2025 and 5.0% in April 2025, compared with 4.8% in May 2024.
The May 2025 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 04/05/25 to 31/05/25, while the April 2025 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 06/04/25 to 03/05/25.
The headline table shows the seasonally adjusted value and volume indices for the Retail Sales Index. It also highlights the monthly and annual percentage changes in both value and volume. Value represents turnover or total expenditure whereas volume strips out the impact of price changes to reflect quantity sold.
| Seasonally Adjusted Retail Sales Index - All Businesses | ||
| Base Year 2021=100 | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| May 2024 | 112.2 | 123.1 |
| April 2025 | 114.7 | 126.1 |
| May 2025 | 114.0 | 125.2 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.6% | -0.7% |
| Annual | 1.6% | 1.7% |
In May 2025, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses fell by 0.6% in the month and rose by 1.6% in the year since May 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.5% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.9% higher.
In May 2025, sectors showing monthly volume decreases were Department Stores (-3.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-1.5%), Electrical Goods (-1.3%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.0%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-0.6%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (+3.0%), Fuel (+2.2%), Bars (+1.2%), and Furniture & Lighting (+1.2%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.6 |
| Motor Trades | 0.4 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.6 |
| Department Stores | -3.7 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -2.2 |
| Fuel | 2.2 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0.7 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 0 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 1.2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -1.5 |
| Electrical Goods | -1.3 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -1 |
| Other Retail Sales | 3 |
| Bars | 1.2 |
In May 2025, the largest annual volume growth was recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+10.0%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+5.4%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.2%), Motor Trades (+3.9%), and Other Retail Sales (+3.9%).
The highest annual volume declines were in Bars (-6.8%), Department Stores (-4.2%), and Electrical Goods (-2.7%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 1.6 |
| Motor Trades | 3.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.4 |
| Department Stores | -4.2 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -1.5 |
| Fuel | 1.6 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 4.2 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 2.9 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 10 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 5.4 |
| Electrical Goods | -2.7 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -1.1 |
| Other Retail Sales | 3.9 |
| Bars | -6.8 |
Table 4 relates to final results for April 2025, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.7% in May 2025 and 5.0% in April 2025, compared with 4.8% in May 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 6.2% in May 2025 and 6.7% in April 2025, compared with 6.3% in May 2024.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (30 June 2025) published Retail Sales Index May 2025 (Provisional) and April 2025 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.6% in May 2025 when compared with April 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.6% higher than in May 2024.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.5% in the month and by 0.9% in the year when compared with May 2024 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing monthly volume decreases were Department Stores (-3.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-1.5%), Electrical Goods (-1.3%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.0%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-0.6%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (+3.0%), Fuel (+2.2%), Bars (+1.2%), and Furniture & Lighting (+1.2%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
In May 2025, the largest annual volume growth was recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+10.0%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+5.4%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.2%), Motor Trades (+3.9%), and Other Retail Sales (+3.9%).
The highest annual volume declines were in Bars (-6.8%), Department Stores (-4.2%), and Electrical Goods (-2.7%).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.7% lower in May 2025 than in April 2025 and was up by 1.7% when compared with May 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.7% in the month and by 1.0% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."